A couple of years ago, I was blown away by Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad. That award-winning novel combined the dark history of slavery with fantastical surrealism that completely stunned me. Whitehead cleverly imagined a world where the underground railroad was an actual railroad that carried slaves through a tunnel system under America. Each stop illustrated a different time period of African American oppression. That monumental novel was the kind of read that lingered in the back of my mind and left me wanting more. In The Nickel Boys, Whitehead's latest novel, he forgoes the fantasy of his previous work in favor of historical fiction that stays rooted in the harsh realities of its subject matter.Elwood Curtis is coming into his own as an upstanding citizen within segregated Tallahassee. He never really knew his parents, but his stern grandmother has ensured he toes the line. He diligently commits to his studies in school and works hard after school as a shopkeep. At night, Elwood plays a record of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. speaking on the hope of equal rights. Emboldened by the words of Dr. King and the no-nonsense guidance of his grandmother, Elwood's future is looking bright. He's even been selected to attend college classes. Unfortunately, Elwood is about to get a grim reminder of how unjust the world can be.
A classic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time leaves Elwood charged with a crime he didn't commit. Rather than be imprisoned in the traditional sense, Elwood is sent to The Nickel Academy, a school that claims to rehabilitate troubled boys. He tries to make the best of a bad situation. The manicured grounds and meticulously maintained buildings of Nickel shine with the promise of providing the young men with a structured path to reentering society. To Elwood, it seems simple enough. If you follow the rules and do the time, you will be set free. In reality, Nickel follows the same cruel pattern of corruptness, racism, violence, and torture that was all too common during the Jim Crow era. The bright optimism that permeates Elwood's being is about to be shattered by the malice of racist oppression.
The Nickel Boys sees Colson Whitehead return to many of the themes that were in The Underground Railroad in a way that is decidedly different from that novel. There's no magical railroad to lead Elwood to safety. He's stuck in the agonizing hell of Nickel, and we live every moment of that pain and hopelessness with him. Whitehead based Nickel on the real and equally appalling Dozier School for Boys which only ceased operation back in 2011. Since the closing, mass graves of the abused youth who spent time there have been discovered, adding another ripple to the United State's dark history of racism.
Whitehead deserves much credit for his ability to balance the horrors of Nickel with the youthful antics of the students inhabiting it. Each scene that humanized the boys as normal, relatable kids only made the scenes of unflinching torture all the more harrowing. On a larger scale, Nickel can be seen as a metaphor to the United States itself. From the outside looking in, there's the pristine exterior of promise and hope. It is only in the shadows of the inside that the darker proclivities are revealed. Stories like the one told in The Nickel Boys are essential to understanding American history and the struggles with race and oppression that exist to this day. Through his splendid writing, Colson Whitehead continues to shine his authorial light upon these dark, but fundamental subjects.
For more information visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads.
(2019, 28)
My gosh, this breaks my heart even as it's so so relevant.
ReplyDeleteEspecially after the last few days. Such an important work!
DeleteHow horrible that this school was based on a real one, and one that didn't close until not too long ago. That's just insane Sounds like a really intense, but important, read.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
We forget how recent our past is.
DeleteWhitehead sounds like a courageous and brilliant writer.
ReplyDeleteHis books are worth a read if you get the chance!
DeleteThis sounds like a must read. The Underground Railroad has been on my TBR for a while...seems like I need to add this one too.
ReplyDeleteGo ahead and make time for both of them. You won't be disappointed!
DeleteYour review has me feeling so much for Elwood. His story sounds heartbreaking. I always think historical fiction is a great and accessible way to help people learn about things from our past too.
ReplyDeleteIt is such an important lesson, especially for the current social climate.
DeleteOh boy, this sounds like such a tough read. The sheer injustice is just so hard to swallow and hurts my heart.
ReplyDeleteThere are tough moments, but Whitehead does a great job of balancing them with lighter ones.
DeleteI found The Underground Railroad powerful - although I think I wanna re-read it as last time I audiobooked it through a BBC adaptation while I was working, and some of it I missed the full impact of through having my attention elsewhere (I'm good at multi-tasking, but sometimes I do get distracted!)
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds equally awesome, and I def. wanna read it!
They are both worthy of a physical read!
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